Vacuum cleaner for automobiles



Dec. 3, 1929. w. L. GRATHWOL VACUUM CLEANER FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Dec. 16 1926 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 3, 1929 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. GRATHWOL, F STRATFORI), CONNECTICUT VACUUM CLEANER FQR AUTOMOBILES Application filed December 16, 1926. Serial No. 155,234.

This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner for automobiles adapted to be operated by utilization of the engine exhaust, and the general object of the invention is to produce a vacuum cleaner which will be an improvement over the disclosures of patent to' Leathers, No. 1,499,937, granted July 1, 1924, and my pending application for patent, Serial 'No. 87 ,938, filed February 12, 1926.

uum cleaner of the present character which is adapted tobe directly connected with the main exhaust line of anengine, and which is provided with improved mechanism whereby a vacuum may be easily and readily produced in a pipe connection or conduit, or may be just as easily and readil destroyed.

A further specific obj novel, simple, and improved means for positively retaining the vacuum producing mechanism in operative position and for manipulating said mechanism to destroy vacuum in said pi e connection or conduit when the cleaner is to be put out of use.

A further specific object is to provide in the vacuum cleaner a fitting of novel, simple and improved construction.

-With the above objects in view, as well as others which will appear as the specification proceeds, the invention comprises the construction, arrangement and-combination of parts as now to be fully'described and as hereinafter to be specifically claimed,- it being understood that the disclosure herein is merely illustrative and meant in no way in a limiting sense, changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts being permissible so long as within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is aplan view of an automotive vehicle chassis, disclosing one of the running boards and the exhaust line with mufller, and showing the improved cleaner associated with said running board and exhaust line;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view, the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 suggesting the location of the section, disclosing a vacuum cleaner hose associated with the conduit of the cleaner;

A more specific object. is to provide a vacect is to provide.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevationalview, partially in section, disclosing an exhaust line, the fitting and conduit or pipe connection of the cleaner, the device for fastening the outer end portion of the conduit or pipeconnection as to the automotive vehicle running board, and parts associated with the parts mentioned, the exhaust gas accelerator being shown in full and in dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the fitting as seen from the right in Fig. 3, disclosing a fragmentary part of the mechanism for actuating the exhaust gas accelerator;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the device for fastening the outer end portion of the 5 conduit or pipe connection, as to the vehicle running board, as seen from the right in Fig.

3, disclosing fragmentary parts of the conduit or pipe connection and of the mechanism for;1 actuating the exhaust gas accelerator; an

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevationalview partially in section, disclosing a modified form of fitting associated. with an exhaust line and a conduit or pipe connection.

With respect to the drawing and the characters and numerals of reference thereon, A denotes an automotive vehicle chassis, B the exhaust line of the engine of said vehicle, C a mufiier in said exhaust line, D a running board of said chassis, and 10 represents, generally,.the vacuum cleaner of the invention, which is, as disclosed, associated with the exhaust line and running board.

' Of the vacuum cleaner, 11 is a fitting secured in the exhaust line. Clearly, the fitting could be secured at the end of the exhaust line. As shown, the fitting consists of two pieces of material tightly surrounding the exhaust line and clamped thereon. One of B the pieces of material 12 of the fitting is a longitudinal part of a tube, while the other piece 13 consists of a longitudinal part of a tube having a pocket, cavity, or depression 14 which is in communication with a hollow 05 pipe 15 adapted to receive a conduit or pipe connection 16, the conduit or pipe connection being secured to the hollow pipe in any convenient or suitable manner.

The part tubes 12 and 13 are clamped upon 1 in the manner best disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4. The piece of material or part tube 12 intubes 12 and 13 toward each other.

I trated and described clamping the pieces of material 12.and 13 l cludes oppositely disposed, outwardly positionedshoulders 17, one adjacent each longitudinal edge or margin 18 of said part tube 12 and desirably perpendicular thereto, and the piece of material or part tube 13 includes oppositely disposed, inwardly positioned shoulders 19, one adjacent each longitudinal edge or margin 20 of said part tube 13 and complemental to a shoulder 17. The piece of material 12 also has lugs 21 beyond each shoulder 17, each lug 21 being complemental to a lug 22 upon the piece of material 13 and beyond each shoulder 19.. Numeral 23 designates screws, one passing through each lug 21 and entering a lug 22 for drawing the pialilt e arrangement is such that when the screws are drawn home, there is a snug fit of the shoulders 17 and 19, respectively, against each other to provide fluid tight joints at the locations indicated 24. The opposite end ortions of each of said part tubes 12 an 13 are provided with inwardly extending partor semi-annular flanges, which, when the part tubes 12 and 13 are assembled, furnish annu lar flanges designated 25 at the inner ends of pockets 26' of the fitting adapted to receive the exhaust line. In "practice, the exhaust line pipes snugly fit the pockets 26 and rest against the annular flanges 25 to. provide fluid tight joints at the will be evident that the arrangement as illusmakes rovision for upon the exhaust line as tightly as may be dethe exhaust line .sirable, the shoulde each other and interlapping more or rs 17 and 19 slidin over Fess to make fluid tightjoints at the locations 24, and piping being snugly grasped by the end portions of the fitting and resting fluid tight make joints at the locations 27, thus the necessity for packing of any against the annular flanges 25 thereof to precluding sort.

'The end 28 of the conduit or pipe connec- 4 tion 16 spaced from the fitting 11 is, for condevice 29, to the lower face of the runnin venience, preferably secured, as by afspecial board D, although said end 28 could be otherwise situated. The special device 29 ma pipe connection end 28 and including holes 31 for holding means (not shown) adapted to enter the lower face of the runnin board. I The hollow ipe 15 is ada ted to e practically covered normally (when the vacuum cleaner is out of use), communication between the exhaust line, as by an exhaust gas accelerator 32 fixed .upon a shaft 33 rotatably supported in the fitting 11, said accelerator being disclosed in Fig.3 1n dotted lines as practicallocations represented 27. It,

g the same time, the exhaust to preclude noticeable 1 the conduit 16 and 1y cuttin ofi' communication between the pipe 15 and-the exhaust line.

The exhaust as accelerator 32 is adapted to be normally situated (as indotted lines in Fig. 3) so that the normal assage 34 through the fitting is at least as large in diameter as is the passage 35 through the exhaust line next adjacent the fitting (to the ri ht in Fig. 3), and said accelerator is adapted to be swung to its full line position of Figs. 3 and 4, with its marginal portion engaging approximately'the full inner circumference or perimeter of the fitting, in order that the cleaner may 0 erate. For so swinging said accelerator provide a lever 36 fixed upon the shaft 33, and an operating rod 37 having one of .its ends pivoted as at 38 to said lever 36 and its end portion 39 opposite said lever slidably arranged in the special device 29. The clamp 30 may include a guide way 40 for the operating rod 37, and a spring 41 upon the device 29 and enga in the rod 37 may provide means for yie da 1 situating said rod in said guide way. See igs. 3 and 5. A protuberance 42 upon the clamp 30 may provide a rest for a bent over art 43 of the operating rod 37 when situated in the operative position of the vacuum cleaner. See Fig. 5.

The accelerator 32 is' provided with an opening 44 adapted to provide a venturi 45 positioned approximately centrally of the exhaust line when said accelerator is in the operative osition of the vacuum cleaner, as very clear y disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4, the venturi being disposed in the direction of the flow of exhaust ases through said exhaust ine, as indicated y thearrow in said Fig. 3.

Numeral 46 denotes a cleaner hose adapted to be received in the outer end 28 of the conduit or pipe connection 16, as in Fig. 2.

The manner in which the vacuum cleaner functions is obvious. When the parts are as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the exhaust outlet is ofthe same cross-sectional area as is the outlet through the fitting 11, and incidentally, the conduit 16 is practically out of communication with the exhaust line. When the parts are as shown in full lines in said Fig. 3, or in Fig. 4, there is communication between the conduit and the exhaust line. At gas outlet through the fitting and past the accelerator 32 is rey stricted to the venturi 45,. When the assage comprise a clamp 30 about the conduit or past the accelerator is not restricte is no suction created'in the exhaust line, but when the passage through the fitting is restricted to the venturi, there is a corres onding acceleration in the velocity of ex aust gases passing through said fitting at the ocation adjacent the pocket, cavity, or depression 14 adapted to create a suction, and, the conduit 16 now being open to the exhaust line, said suction will tend to create a vacuum in said conduit which will be satisfied through the cleaner hose.

, there Clearly, when the accelerator 32 is positioned as in dotted lines in Fig. 3, there is no vacuum in the exhaust line or fitting 11 adjacent the hollow pipe 15, but the moment the accelerator is swung to the operative position of the cleaner, the velocity of exhaustgases through the venturi is greatlyv increased, to produce vacuum in and about the pocket, 'cavity, .or depression 14, a which position as in Fig. 3. When the operating rod is in its dotted line position as in Fig. 3, or Fig. 5, the spring 41, in coo eration with the guide Way 40, sutfices to ho d the accelerator against accidental displacement from its intended inoperative position.-

In Fig. 6 I have disclosed an exhaust line B, a conduit or pipe connection 16' and a fitting 11 having relation which is considerably like the relation between the exhaust line B, the conduit 16, and the fitting 11 as before described. In the present instance, the fitting 11 includes a hollow body 47, of diameter not much greater than the diameter of the exhaust line B, removably or otherwise secured upon said exhaust line as at 48. The fitting 11 also includes a tapered pipe 49 pro viding a venturi 45 positioned centrally of the hollow body 47 adjacent the outlet 50 thereof, said tapered pipe leading from the conduit or pipe connection 16 and being removably threaded upon the conduit or pipe connection as at 51, or secured to said conduit or pipe connection in some other suitable fashion.

The manner in which the vacuum cleaner of Fig. 6 functions is obvious. Exhaust gases said passage, and means for inserting said venturi into said passage.

2. In an automotive vehicle. a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit adapted to communicafe with said passage,-a venturi for restricting the area of said passage adjacent the mouth of said conduit, andmeans of which said venturi is a part for practically closing communication between said conduit and passage.

3. In an automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit, andmeans including a venturi for restricting the cross-sectional area of said passage and for simultaneously opening communication between said conduit and passage.

4. In an automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit, and means including a venturi for restrictin the cross-sectional area of said passage an for simultaneously opening communication between said conduit and a portion of said passage adapted to re ceive exhaust gases after they have passed said venturi.

5. In an automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit, and means including a venturi in said passage adjacent the mouth of said conduit for restricting the cross-sectional area of said passage and for simultaneously opening-communication between said conduit and passage at a location adjacent said venturi and to which said exhaust gases are adapted to travel when past said venturi.

. 6. In an automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit, an exhaust gas accelerator in said passage adjacent the mouth of said conduit, said accelerator being constructed to provide a venturi, and means formanipulating said accelerator to restrict said passage to said venturi and to simultaneously open communication between said conduit and passage.

7. In an automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit, an exhaust gas accelerator in said passage adjacent the mouth of said conduit, said accelerator being constructed to provide a "venturi and being adapted to normally practically close said conduit from said passage, and means for manipulating said accelerator to restrict said passage to said venturi and to open said conduit to said passage.

8. In an' automotive vehicle, a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit, an exhaust gas accelerator in said passage adjacent the mouth of said conduit, said accelerator being constructed to provide a venturi and being adapted to normally approximately close said conduit from said passage, and means for manipulating said accelerator to restrict said passage to said venturi and to open said conduit to said passage at a location adjacent said venturi and adapted to receive exhaust gases from-said venturi.

9. In an automotive vehicle, an exhaust outlet including a. passage for exhaust gases and a pocket in said passage, a conduit adapted to communicate with said passage, and means in said pocket normally practicall closing said conduit from said passage, sai means being constructed to provide a venturi'and being adapted to be manipulated to afford communication between said conduit and passage and to simultaneously restrict said passage to said venturi adjacent said pocket and the location'of communication between said conduit and passage.

10. In an automotive vehicle, an exhaust outlet including a passage for exhaust gases and a pocket in said passage, a conduit adapted to'communicate with said passage,

an exhaust gas accelerator in said pocket, said accelerator being constructed to provide a venturi, and means for manipulating said accelerator to afford free communication between the conduit and passage and to simultaneously restrict said passage to said venturi 'and" thusincrease the velocity of exhaust gases adapted to travel past the mouth of said conduit. a

11'. In an ailtomotive vehicle, an exhaust outlet, a conduit ada ted to communicate therewith, and means tween said conduit and exhaust outlet adapted to normally restrict said conduit, said means being constructed to provide a venturi 'and being adapted to be mani ulated to allow communication between sai conduit and exhaust outlet and to simultaneously restrict the area of said'exhaust outlet to said venturi at a location adjacent the location of communication between said conduit and outlet.

12. In an automotive vehicle, an exhaust outlet, a conduit adapted to communicate therewith, an exhaust gas accelerator between said conduit and exhaust outlet adapted to normally restrict said conduit, said accelerator being constructed to provide a venturi,

and means for manipulating said accelerator to afiord communication between said con duit and exhaust outlet and to simultaneously restrict the area of said exhaust outlet to said venturi at a locationadjacent the location of communication between said conduit and outlet.

13. A 'device of the character described, comprising a fitting adapted to be secured to the exhaust line of an automotive vehicle engine, a conduit adapted to communicate with said fitting, an exhaust gas accelerator adapted to normally restrict communication between said conduit and fitting, said accelerator being constructed to provide a venturi, and means for causing said accelerator to restrict said fitting to said venturi and .to simultaneously afiord communication between said conduit and fitting.

14. A device of the character described, comprising a fitting having a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit adapted to oommunicate with said passage, an exhaust gas ing said accelerator to afford communica-' tion between said conduit and passage and comprising a member havin exhaust gases, a" condu1t a apted to comaccelerator ada ted to normally restrictto simultaneously restrict the cross-sectional area of said passage to said venturi.

15. A device of the character described, a passage for municate with said member, and means including a venturi adapted to be inserted in said passage to afford communication between the conduit and passage tending to create a vacuum in said conduit by reason of the travel of exhaust gases through said passage and to be removed from said passage to rid said conduit of vacuum. 16. In an automobile vehicle, an exhaust gas outlet, a fitting associated with said outlet and .having a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit adapted to communicate with said passage, the conduit being secured upon a fixed part of the vehicle and having an openin adapted to receive a vacuum hose, a p'lvote and adjustable accelerator between said conduit and passage adapted to be positioned to restrict communication between the conduit and passage, or to open communicationbetween the conduit and passage and restrict the passage, and means for manipulating said accelerator, said means comprising a lever fixed to the axis of said accelerator, an operating rod pivoted to.said lever, a guide way on a fixed part of the vehicle for said operating rod, and devices associated with said guide way for fastening said opcrating rod in the operative position of said accelerator. t

17. In an automotive vehicle, an exhaust gas .Olltlt, a fitting associated with said outlet and having a passage for exhaust gases, a conduit adapted to communicate with said passage, the conduit being securedupon a fixed art of the vehicle and having an opening adiipted to receive a vacuum hose, a pivoted and adjustable accelerator between said conduit and passage adapted to be positioned to restrict communication between the conduit and assage, or to open communication between tiie conduit and passage and restrict the passage, and means for manipulating said accelerator, said means comprising a lever fixed to the axis of said accelerator, an operating rod (pivoted to said lever, a guide way on a fixe part of the vehicle for said operating rod, a device slidably retaining said operating rod in said guide way, and a protuberance upon said fixed part and adapted to be engaged by said operating rod when in the operative position of said accelerator. Si ned at Bridgeport, Conn., in the county of F airfield and State of Connecticut this 11th day of December, A. D., 1926.

WILLIAM L. GRATHWOL. 

